SICTA 2017

After gaining tremendous popularity and acclaim in its first edition, Symbiosis Law School, Pune is proud to present the second edition of Second Symbiosis International Criminal Trial
Advocacy Competition [SICTA]. The first edition garnered success and proved to be a game
changer in Indian law education as it simulated the Trial Chamber of International Criminal
Court. Symbiosis Law School, Pune is bringing out another edition of the Competition on a
much larger scale than its predecessor from March 31, 2017 to April 02, 2017. The theme of this year’s compromis is Cyber Warfare and brunch of other elements from the mixed regime of international criminal law.

“World War III is already here, and it’s happening on the internet.” The significance of international criminal law cannot be overstated. In 2007, there were a concerted series of cyber-attacks on Estonia. These were particularly effective, because the Baltic state has pushed so much of its public life online. In 2008, several underwater internet cables were cut during the course of the year, interrupting internet communication and particularly affecting the Middle East. In 2010, the Stuxnet worm was used to attack Iran’s nuclear program and was reported to have successfully damaged the fast-spinning centrifuges used to develop nuclear material in Iran. In recent times, reports indicate that the 2016 US election campaign was being influenced by alleged hacked and leaked emails The open speculation was that it was an attempt to hack into election counting machines by a foreign power.

Against such contemporary developments, the novelty of the Symbiosis Law School, Pune
International Criminal Trial Advocacy Competition, 2017 lies in its theme and adherence to
procedure and rules of evidence that set it apart from most ICC based moots, including the
famed ICC Moot Court Competition. The Competition tests a participant’s advocacy skills with special relevance being placed on witness briefing and the skill of being able to extract all
relevant factual submissions from the witness concerned. Further, the Competition shall seek
ingenuity in terms of appropriate evidence appraisal, in lieu of the facts and the collaboration of the same with the charges framed.

The Competition shall witness 13 top teams from India, selected through an invite-only process, competing against one another and being adjudged by top legal luminaries from the fraternity. This time the Competition is seeing participation from 18 law schools including 5 International Law Schools including the coveted University of Sussex, U.K., Kuwait International Law School and esteemed Universities from SAARC Nations. This edition, SICTA is being sponsored by Adv. Ram Jethmalani, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India, Rostrum Legal, SLS Pune Alumni, SCC Online and Eastern Book Company.